The Minority in Parliament has accused the CEO of the Forestry Commission Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie popularly known as Sir John and the Ashanti regional New Patriotic Party chairman Wontumi of engaging in illegal mining (Galamsey) despite a ban on the practice.

Addressing the media in Parliament Tuesday, the minority spokesperson on Energy Adam Mutawakilu said the two top functionaries of the Akufo-Addo administration, are deeply involved in galamsey in Jacobu in the Ashanti Region.

Minority spokesperson on Energy, Hon. Adam Mutawakilu

“The information that the Minority have is that the CEO of Forestry Commission Sir John uses his office to put signposts [indicating] that certain areas are marked for reclamation but in actual fact there is serious galamsey going in the areas and the signposts is just to deceive the Military from invading those places,” the Damango lawmaker alleged.

“And that’s what happened in Jakobi (in the Ashanti Region). There was a big signboard that reclamation was going on but when the Military, Operation Vanguard got in, they realized that there was serious galamsey going on with the knowledge of these appointees,” he added.

Accusing the President of emboldening his appointees to engage in the nefarious act despite the fact that his administration has declared war against illegal mining, Mr Mutawakilu said: “We the Minority are therefore putting it on record that Mr President you are shielding your appointees from engaging in galamsey.”

Asking for all forestry areas marked as reclamation zones be investigated, the Minority entreated the President to “sit up, investigate and work.”

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